Episode 44: MURDERED: Garrett Phillips - Potsdam, NY

A 12-year-old boy strangled in his home, an investigation with tunnel vision, and a small town with many narrow-minded views. Who really killed Garrett Phillips?

Episode Summary

In October 2011, Garrett Phillips was killed inside his Potsdam, New York apartment. What followed was a deeply controversial investigation marked by rushed conclusions, questionable police conduct, prosecutorial misconduct, and a community divided. Despite two indictments, a high-profile trial, and years of scrutiny, no one has ever been held responsible for Garrett’s death. This episode unpacks the timeline, the suspects, the ignored leads, and the serious failures that left a 12-year-old boy without justice.

In 2016, Nick Hillary was found not guilty in a bench trial. The judge ruled the case was entirely circumstantial. Garrett Phillips’ murder remains unsolved.

If You Have Information

If you or someone you know has any information related to the death of Garrett Phillips, no matter how small, please contact the NYS Attorney General at 1-800-771-7755 or NYS Crime Stoppers at 1-866-313-8477

Call to Action

You can help by:

• Signing the Justice For Terron Evans Jr, Garrett Phillips, and Treyanna Summerville (all of St Lawrence County) petition
• Request for the Attorney General to take over Garrett’s case. An example letter/email/call is written below.

Dear Governor Hochul and/or District Attorney Gary Pasqua,

I am requesting that you refer the Garrett Phillips Case to the New York State Attorney General to be reopened and re-investigated. I have been following the details of this case for some time and am quite concerned with how the discrepancies in the documentation(s) may have affected the case itself and its outcomes.

This case deserves more scrutiny and analysis in the interest of Justice and racial equity. The inconsistencies in this case are simply too grave to ignore.

I know that you have received other requests in this matter. I write as a concerned citizen interested in restoring trust to our law enforcement and public officials, but especially in the interest of justice itself.

Respectfully,

Your Name

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